Twenty-four students from the Department of International Affairs at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Qatar University (QU), recently completed a series of charitable activities as part of the department’s leadership and civic responsibility course.
The course includes both theoretical and practical components. In the first half of the semester, students discuss effective leadership and best practices. In the second half, students form groups to conceive, plan and execute an act of charity in their local communities in Qatar, aimed at benefiting the most disadvantaged segments of society.
“The course aims to instil the value of service and is based on Prophet Muhammad’s saying, ‘The leader of a people is the servant of the people’. Our students stepped up and demonstrated a very keen sense of leadership, goodwill and co-operation in these activities, which will serve to enhance their personal and academic development and prepare them for a life of service,” said course professor Dr Farhan Mujahid Chak.
He recalled that last year, students successfully planned and executed charity events to benefit labour and tea staff at QU as well as visits and gifts for children at the cancer hospital.
This year, five groups of students participated in the service-learning activities. The first group organised a fun day for orphans in collaboration with Dhreima, the second presented gift bags to hamali workers in Souq Waqif, the third arranged meals and appreciation certificates for 700 low-skilled QU labourers, tea staff, janitors and gardeners; the fourth presented 100 food and gift boxes to families in Abu Hamour in collaboration with Sanad Qatar; and the fifth visited young cancer patients at Hamad Hospital, spending time with them and distributing toys. Other initiatives include the development of partnerships with a wide range of government and civil society organisations in Qatar, such as Dhreima and Sanad Qatar.
One of the students in the programmme, Hissa al-Sulaiti, said: “Leadership isn’t about giving orders and instructions, but is about co-operation with people to achieve the aims that are planned over time.” Her colleague Noora Abdul-Rahman al-Hay said, “As long as there are people working hard and giving a helping hand for the happiness of others, the world will be fine.”
Students engaged in charitable work.
